Sunday, June 5, 2011

Jesus heals the woman with an issue of blood

Lesson: A touch from Jesus heals (Luke 8:43-48; Mark 5:25-34)

1. Icebreaker:

Who touched me? Have the children sit in a circle. One person sits in the middle and is blindfolded. Children will take turns as the teacher quietly points to each one, to go to the child in the middle and TOUCH that children and quietly run back to the circle. Then the blindfold can be removed and the child can try to guess who TOUCHED him/her. If he guesses it correctly, then that child goes to the middle to be blindfolded, etc.

Touch the TeacherBlindfold the teacher and let children take turns touching the teacher’s back. The teacher will have to guess what part of the child's body touched the teacher's back - such as a finger, a nose, an elbow, a toe, an ear, etc! Can also let kids be the ones to guess who touched them.

2. Story:

Last lesson, we learnt about Jesus delivering the evil spirits out of a man in Gerasenes.

After Jesus left and came back to the other side of the lake, He was quickly summoned to heal a little girl who was dying.

A big crowd followed Jesus as He walked. In the crowd was a woman.

The Bible doesn’t put her name, but we know that she had been bleeding for 12 years. How many of you are 12 years old? 12 years is a long time to be bleeding.

Besides the discomfort and pain she might have been going through, this woman had to keep away from society, as she was bleeding and considered “unclean”.

Do you remember who else were considered “unclean” in Jewish society? Lepers

This woman went to many doctors. She spent a lot of money. But instead, she got worse! Nobody could heal her.

But she heard there was someone who could heal her — Jesus.

So even though she was not supposed to be out in public, she decided to go see Jesus. She thought to herself, “If I just touch His clothes, I will be healed!”

So she crept up behind Jesus and touched the edge of His long cloak.

Immediately, her bleeding stopped! And the woman knew that she had been completely healed.

Even though there were so many people around Him, Jesus also realised something had happened. He turned around and asked, “Who touched me? I know that power has gone out from me.”

The woman knew she couldn’t hide. She came and fell at Jesus’ feet. And she told Him and everyone there what had happened to her. She testified how God had healed her.

Then Jesus said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.

3. Lesson:

When all hope is gone, this woman had faith that Jesus could heal her. She confessed it with her mouth, “If I just touch His clothes, I will be healed.”

We, too, can exercise faith in what we say. Speak out God’s truth and promises, even when things may seem hopeless. We, too, can reach out in faith and receive our healing and miracle.

When we meet Jesus, we cannot remain the same. We will be transformed.

Healing takes place

We are given a new identity — no longer just “woman” but “daughter”

We have His peace

Like the woman, all that is left for us to do is to tell others what God has done for us.

Let’s pray: Thank you Jesus that a touch from You is all we need. You have the power to heal us. You have the power to make us Your sons and daughters. Thank you for loving us and working in us. In Your name, I pray Amen.

1.After Jesus returned from the other side of the lake, he was asked to go to heal a very sick girl. As he was on his way, he was surrounded by a great crowd. Who was in the crowd?

A woman who had been bleeding for 12 years.

2.What were some of the physical, financial and social sufferings she had gone through?

Physical: Bleeding for 12 years. Got worse.

Financial: Spent all she had on many doctors.

Social: Considered “unclean” and not allowed to be in contact with other people.

[Who else in Jesus’ time were considered “unclean”? Lepers]

3.When all hope was gone, the woman heard about Jesus and faith arose. What did she say to herself?

“If I just touch His clothes, I will be healed.”

4.What happened when she touched the hem of Jesus’ cloak?

Immediately her bleeding stopped, and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.

5.No one else saw what she did, but her touch did not go unnoticed by Jesus. He turned around and asked who touched Him because He felt power go out from Him. What did the woman do?

She came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told them why she had touched Jesus and how she had been instantly healed. (She testified of Jesus’ goodness to her)

6.What did Jesus say to her?

“Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”

When all hope is gone, this woman had faith that Jesus could heal her. She confessed it with her mouth, “If I just touch His clothes, I will be healed.” We, too, can exercise faith in what we say. Speak out God’s truth and promises, even when things may seem hopeless. We, too, can reach out in faith and receive our healing and miracle.

When we meet Jesus, we cannot remain the same. We will be transformed.

Like the woman, all that is left for us to do is to tell others what God has done for us.